Ford or Chevy

abby normal · Feb 10, 2010, 06:36 AM

My PC is 1 year old. I have a problem with it that started from day 1. It drops the video(screen goes blank) and the light on my monitor changes color showing me I have no signal and the fan on the video card changes to running wide open. The card is a sapphire HD 4870 1G GDDR5. I just replaced the MB and the problem is still there. This problem can happen any time using any problem. I know my question may return answers like comparing what do you like a Ford or a Chevy, but I like ATI type cards, about $150 to $175. I would like to hear from you all what do you like about the cards you use and what kind. I want to change the brand as I'm not impressed with Sapphire customer service, but that's another thread HA HA HA

Looking forward to your help!!!!!

comp_ali · Feb 10, 2010, 12:32 PM

You can upgrade to 5770 as it is in the same price range you mentioned but I bet you wouldn't notice any performance gain over your current 4870 . A wise choice is to wait until you could go for something like 5870 or 5850. I think HIS is a good manufacture too but I am surprised that Sapphire support let you down.

IvanV · Feb 10, 2010, 01:06 PM

If I understood you correctly and you wont a sort of a user satisfaction poll, I've got an ATi 4670 built by Gigabyte and I'm very happy with it.

They went with an all solid capacitor design (though that is becoming more and more common on graphics cards) and a different cooler. The cooler is nothing special at a glance, but the reference 4670 cards get very, very hot under load and this one's at least 20C cooler (checked when I got the card

) so that's a big plus. The 4670s from different manufacturers come with different memory speeds, usually 800 to 1000MHz, which does make a difference on this card, and, fortunately, Gigabyte has opted for 1000MHz memory. Gigabyte has also given this card Crossfire connectors and a native HDMI video connector, which not all 4670s have. Still, the card cost as much as any ordinary 4670. Most importantly, it has been completely trouble free so I'm really happy with the job Gigabyte did.

comp_ali · Feb 10, 2010, 01:27 PM

I think Gigabyte one has Zalman cooler , right . I have a powercolor 4670 with special cooler (I don't remember the name ) , the temps are great (40 idle and 50s when gaming) and there is almost no noise at all.

abby normal · Feb 16, 2010, 02:39 AM

comp_ali,
I just got a HD 5770 1G GDDR5 XFX today and Yes it did make a difference. I put in ATI's 10.1 total package for Wins 7 and ran auto tune. The GPU clock was listed to max at 960 and it stopped at 950. the Memory clock was maxed at 1445 but stopped at 1435. I see now I need to upgrade my monitor as it limit is 1240x1024 and this horse tops out at 1650x something, I forget. Had some problems with picture skipping and locking up on some games. I lowered the GPU clock down to 850Mhz and the memory clock down to 1250Mhz and everything is playing OK now! Thank you all for your suggestions and help.
abby normal

comp_ali · Feb 16, 2010, 12:37 PM

Good , the GPU and Memory clocks go down while idle , if that's the case then it is normal. does the skipping issue happen only in specific games or in general ? .
I have feeling you might got bottlenecked by the dual core cpu but I am not sure . It is the only weak point in your rig.
As for monitor , I think something like 23" 1920*1080 would be cheap . I just bought one for about 250$ . btw , the response time is a marketing tool (aka : crap) I have two monitors , LG is 8 ms while the new samsung is 2ms and I can't notice any difference . so if you had the choice , just pick the cheap 5 ms monitor and it will be okay.

Judas · Feb 16, 2010, 03:48 PM

power supply insufficient? 4870 is under warranty yet but usually a problem like that i've seen is usually insufficient power supply

comp_ali · Feb 16, 2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

power supply insufficient? 4870 is under warranty yet but usually a problem like that i've seen is usually insufficient power supply

He is using 5770 now If I got it right.

Judas · Feb 16, 2010, 07:12 PM

yeah but i'm still curious about the 4870 considering it uses far more power and likely was still working properly.

abby normal · Feb 18, 2010, 04:40 PM

Someone told me about PSU Calculator, It totaled up my system and added a 30% extra to it, and it showed I needed a 560 Watt PSU. I have a Aero Cooler 750 Watt and Anything is possible, but my problem has gone away since I put in XFX HD 5770. Matter of fact the PC is now running faster in games and other programs.

Thank you for yor help

Judas · Feb 18, 2010, 09:35 PM

remember, check the AMPERAGE one each rail, the 12v rails are the important ones.

i'm not at all familare with aero cooler brand name, sounds like a knock off typical generic one.

I've seen some 800-900 watt PSU's that were a combined 180watt 12v rail rating which ment pure crap couldn't run most machines well, all the wattage ratings were in the 5 and 3.3v rails which really aren't used at all much if ever anymore.

abby normal · Mar 19, 2010, 07:00 AM

If I want to change out my CPU- Intel core 2 Dou E8500 to a Intel 4quad CPU could you suggest one. I was told to look at the Intel quad 9400. I can't remember if it was a E or Q before the 9400. I'm new to working with CPUs. I noticed in Newegg that the E8500 duo is 65W and the 9400 is 95W. Do I have to change anything in BIOS, or is it picked up and ups the wattage itself? Right now my PC is running stable with no problems. I'm not a gamer per say, but use my PC for all around things. I have the E8500 over-clocked to 3.8 gigs with temps in the top 20's idle and top 40's under load. Is it worth the change?? If I make a change, it will be in April.
Thank you for any help you can give.

Judas · Mar 19, 2010, 03:13 PM

All "E" cpu's are dual core and "Q" cpu's are Quad

So it'd be a Q9400.

Depending on the price of what the CPU's are, i'd look at th entire lineup of the Q9xxx and see which one fits your budget

Feb 10, 2010, 06:36 AM	#1
abby normal HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA, VA. Posts: 52 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Ford or Chevy My PC is 1 year old. I have a problem with it that started from day 1. It drops the video(screen goes blank) and the light on my monitor changes color showing me I have no signal and the fan on the video card changes to running wide open. The card is a sapphire HD 4870 1G GDDR5. I just replaced the MB and the problem is still there. This problem can happen any time using any problem. I know my question may return answers like comparing what do you like a Ford or a Chevy, but I like ATI type cards, about $150 to $175. I would like to hear from you all what do you like about the cards you use and what kind. I want to change the brand as I'm not impressed with Sapphire customer service, but that's another thread HA HA HA Looking forward to your help!!!!! __________________ Abby Normal Laugh at your problems.... everyone else is.

Feb 10, 2010, 12:32 PM	#2
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: Ford or Chevy You can upgrade to 5770 as it is in the same price range you mentioned but I bet you wouldn't notice any performance gain over your current 4870 . A wise choice is to wait until you could go for something like 5870 or 5850. I think HIS is a good manufacture too but I am surprised that Sapphire support let you down.

Feb 10, 2010, 01:06 PM	#3
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,914 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: Ford or Chevy If I understood you correctly and you wont a sort of a user satisfaction poll, I've got an ATi 4670 built by Gigabyte and I'm very happy with it. They went with an all solid capacitor design (though that is becoming more and more common on graphics cards) and a different cooler. The cooler is nothing special at a glance, but the reference 4670 cards get very, very hot under load and this one's at least 20C cooler (checked when I got the card ) so that's a big plus. The 4670s from different manufacturers come with different memory speeds, usually 800 to 1000MHz, which does make a difference on this card, and, fortunately, Gigabyte has opted for 1000MHz memory. Gigabyte has also given this card Crossfire connectors and a native HDMI video connector, which not all 4670s have. Still, the card cost as much as any ordinary 4670. Most importantly, it has been completely trouble free so I'm really happy with the job Gigabyte did. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Feb 10, 2010, 01:27 PM	#4
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: Ford or Chevy I think Gigabyte one has Zalman cooler , right . I have a powercolor 4670 with special cooler (I don't remember the name ) , the temps are great (40 idle and 50s when gaming) and there is almost no noise at all.

Feb 16, 2010, 02:39 AM	Thread Starter #5
abby normal HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA, VA. Posts: 52 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Ford or Chevy comp_ali, I just got a HD 5770 1G GDDR5 XFX today and Yes it did make a difference. I put in ATI's 10.1 total package for Wins 7 and ran auto tune. The GPU clock was listed to max at 960 and it stopped at 950. the Memory clock was maxed at 1445 but stopped at 1435. I see now I need to upgrade my monitor as it limit is 1240x1024 and this horse tops out at 1650x something, I forget. Had some problems with picture skipping and locking up on some games. I lowered the GPU clock down to 850Mhz and the memory clock down to 1250Mhz and everything is playing OK now! Thank you all for your suggestions and help. abby normal __________________ Abby Normal Laugh at your problems.... everyone else is.

Feb 16, 2010, 12:37 PM	#6
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: Ford or Chevy Good , the GPU and Memory clocks go down while idle , if that's the case then it is normal. does the skipping issue happen only in specific games or in general ? . I have feeling you might got bottlenecked by the dual core cpu but I am not sure . It is the only weak point in your rig. As for monitor , I think something like 23" 1920*1080 would be cheap . I just bought one for about 250$ . btw , the response time is a marketing tool (aka : crap) I have two monitors , LG is 8 ms while the new samsung is 2ms and I can't notice any difference . so if you had the choice , just pick the cheap 5 ms monitor and it will be okay.

Feb 18, 2010, 04:40 PM	Thread Starter #10
abby normal HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA, VA. Posts: 52 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Ford or Chevy Someone told me about PSU Calculator, It totaled up my system and added a 30% extra to it, and it showed I needed a 560 Watt PSU. I have a Aero Cooler 750 Watt and Anything is possible, but my problem has gone away since I put in XFX HD 5770. Matter of fact the PC is now running faster in games and other programs. Thank you for yor help __________________ Abby Normal Laugh at your problems.... everyone else is.

Mar 19, 2010, 07:00 AM	Thread Starter #12
abby normal HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA, VA. Posts: 52 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Comp-Ali If I want to change out my CPU- Intel core 2 Dou E8500 to a Intel 4quad CPU could you suggest one. I was told to look at the Intel quad 9400. I can't remember if it was a E or Q before the 9400. I'm new to working with CPUs. I noticed in Newegg that the E8500 duo is 65W and the 9400 is 95W. Do I have to change anything in BIOS, or is it picked up and ups the wattage itself? Right now my PC is running stable with no problems. I'm not a gamer per say, but use my PC for all around things. I have the E8500 over-clocked to 3.8 gigs with temps in the top 20's idle and top 40's under load. Is it worth the change?? If I make a change, it will be in April. Thank you for any help you can give. __________________ Abby Normal Laugh at your problems.... everyone else is. Last edited by abby normal; Mar 19, 2010 at 07:05 AM. Reason: Message meant for Comp-Ali